what qualifies u as a master mechanic ?

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Lately I have been on a quest to find some standard for the hierarchy of bicycle mechanics.

Several shops in my area boast a "Master Mechanic" among their ranks, while others are populated by simple "mechanics".

After doing a little research online, I have found a shop that claims to have a 17 year old "Master", while also employing a UBI certified tech with DT Swiss cert. and suspension cert.; but with only the title of "mechanic".

What steps must the "new guy" take to rise to the status of "Master" ??
If you are a "Master", how long have you been a mechanic? How long a Master? (http://the-magic-bike.weebly.com/)

Magic (http://the-magic-bike.weebly.com/) :o

What a good question! What separates the masters from the regulars is-- head knowledge and applied knowledge. There's a person's head, and then there's a person's hand on a wrench. A master mechanic is someone who has somehow managed to reach a point where they seem to know everything, and they can build or fix everything right the first time. A master mechanic has an intuitive knowledge, built through experience, of what to take into account in any given situation. They are masters of compatability.

What a good question! What separates the masters from the regulars is-- head knowledge and applied knowledge. There's a person's head, and then there's a person's hand on a wrench. A master mechanic is someone who has somehow managed to reach a point where they seem to know everything, and they can build or fix everything right the first time. A master mechanic has an intuitive knowledge, built through experience, of what to take into account in any given situation. They are masters of compatability.

AND a sense of humor.

Lately I have been on a quest to find some standard for the hierarchy of bicycle mechanics.

Several shops in my area boast a "Master Mechanic" among their ranks, while others are populated by simple "mechanics".

After doing a little research online, I have found a shop that claims to have a 17 year old "Master", while also employing a UBI certified tech with DT Swiss cert. and suspension cert.; but with only the title of "mechanic".

What steps must the "new guy" take to rise to the status of "Master" ??
If you are a "Master", how long have you been a mechanic? How long a Master? (http://the-magic-bike.weebly.com/)

Magic (http://the-magic-bike.weebly.com/) :o Don't be confused by certifications. They usually only mean they've sat in front of a manufacturers seminar, maybe passed a skills test and got a piece of paper. Or not.... Go with a shop you trust. Don't know? Ask folks while your out. The higher end the bike, the better mechanic you want working on it. Ask a local rider on a high end bike, they usually don't bring them in to Dick's Sporting Goods "Bike Center".:)

Look for this seal of approval:

http://www.lesjones.com/www/images/posts/wecsog-diploma.jpghttp://www.lesjones.com/www/images/posts/wecsog-diploma.jpg